Section 1440.300  Continuing Education Schools Approval and License

Approval of continuing education  (CE) schools.  Those entities seeking approval as CE schools shall maintain an office for maintenance of all records, office equipment and office space necessary for customer service.

a)         The CE school's office may be subject to inspection by authorized representatives of OBRE during regular working hours and upon at least 24 hours' notice when OBRE has reason to believe that there is not full compliance with the Act or this Part and that this inspection is necessary to ensure full compliance.

b)         OBRE shall be reimbursed by any out-of-state CE school for all reasonable expenses incurred by the inspector in the course of the inspection.

c)         Entities seeking approval as CE schools shall file a CE school application, on forms provided by OBRE, along with the required fee.  The application shall include the following:

1)         A list of all CE courses that the CE school is planning to offer during the 12 month period following approval and a list of all instructors the school plans to utilize in the offering of the CE courses.  The list shall include the instructor's name, address, and approval number.  An approved CE school shall not be precluded from offering CE courses or from utilizing instructors not listed in the initial application or subsequent annual renewals if written notice of the CE course and the instructor to be utilized is submitted 30 days prior to the CE course date pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(E) of this Section;

2)         The description, location, date and time of each CE course to be offered;

3)         The CE school's certification:

A)        that the content areas of all CE courses offered by the CE school for CE credit will conform to those listed in Section 25-5(b) and (c) of the Auction License Act;

B)        that all CE courses offered by the CE school for CE credit will comply with the criteria in this Section;

C)        the CE school will be responsible for verifying attendance at each CE course and providing a certificate of completion signed by the CE school on forms provided by OBRE.  Further, that the school will maintain these records for not less than 5 years and shall make these records available for inspection by OBRE during regular business hours;

D)        that, upon request by OBRE, the CE school will submit evidence as is necessary to establish compliance with this Section and Sections 25-10 through 25-15 of the Act.  The evidence shall be required when OBRE has reason to believe that there is not full compliance with the Act and this Part and that this information is necessary to ensure compliance;

E)         that the CE school will submit to OBRE a written notice of a course 30 days prior to the CE course date if the program was not listed in the application or any subsequent renewal application.  The notice shall include the description, location, date and time of the CE course to be offered;

F)         that the CE school will only offer CE, other than self-study CE, in an environment that is conducive to learning (i.e., adequate lighting, seating) and does not jeopardize the health, safety, and welfare of the attendees; and

G)        that financial resources are available to equip and maintain its office in a manner necessary to enable the CE school to comply with Article 25 of the Act, this Section, and this Part, documented by a current balance sheet, an income statement or any similar evidence as requested by OBRE;

4)         Evidence of the CE school's ability to provide the certificates required by Section 25-10(c) of the Act.

d)         CE schools approved to offer the courses required by Article 25 of the Act shall be deemed to be approved to offer CE programs upon completion of an application for approval and submission of the fee required by Section 1440.170.

e)         Within 30 days after the action by the Auction Advisory Board and OBRE, OBRE shall issue an approval and license to the CE school or notify the CE school, in writing, why approval cannot be issued.

f)          Approved CE schools shall comply with the following:

1)         No approved CE school shall allow the premises or classrooms utilized during CE courses to be used by anyone to directly or indirectly recruit new affiliates for any company.  CE schools and CE instructors shall report to OBRE any efforts to recruit licensees.

2)         No approved CE school shall advertise that it is endorsed, recommended, or accredited by OBRE.  The CE school, however, may indicate that the school and the CE course have been approved and licensed by OBRE.

3)         Approved CE schools shall utilize in the teaching of approved CE courses only CE instructors who are qualified and knowledgeable in the content offered in the course.

4)         Approved CE schools shall specify in any advertising promoting CE courses the number of CE hours that may be credited toward Illinois CE requirements for license renewal.  Further, approved CE schools shall specify the number of mandatory or elective CE course hours that may be earned by successfully completing the course.

5)         All CE courses given by approved CE schools shall be open to all licensees and not be limited to members of a single organization or group.

g)         The CE school shall be responsible for assuring verified attendance at each CE course or self-study examination.  No renewal applicant shall receive CE credit for time not actually spent attending the CE course or when a passing score of 70% on the examination was not achieved.

h)         To maintain approved CE school status, each CE school shall submit, prior to December 31 of odd numbered years, a school renewal application along with the required fee.  The CE school shall be required to submit to OBRE with the renewal application the following:

1)         A list of those CE courses planned to be offered in the 12-month period immediately following the renewal period.  This list shall include a description, location, date and time the course is planned to be offered.

2)         A list of those instructors the school plans to utilize. This list shall include the name and address.

i)          Each approved CE school shall submit to OBRE on or before the 15th of each month a graduation report of those licensees passing approved CE courses offered by it during the preceding calendar month.

1)         The monthly graduation reports shall include the following information for each licensee:

A)        the licensee's name, address, social security number, and license number;

B)        the CE school's name and license number; and

C)        the CE course name, course identification number, course category (mandatory or elective), credit hours, and the date and time classes were held.

2)         If a CE school during the preceding calendar month gave no courses, that CE school shall report in writing that no courses were given.

3)         The monthly graduation reports may be submitted in a computer readable format specified by OBRE.

4)         There is no processing fee for a monthly graduation report submitted in the computer readable format specified by OBRE.  Each monthly graduation report submitted on paper or in a format other than that specified by OBRE shall be accompanied by a processing fee of $.50 per student, per course, listed on the report, payable by check to OBRE.

5)         A monthly graduation report received by OBRE with a postmark after the day it is due (the 15th day of the month) shall be accompanied by an administrative fee of $200 in addition to the fees set forth in subsection (i)(4).

6)         If a CE school fails to file monthly graduation reports or a statement saying that none were given, or fails to pay required fees, if any, as set forth in subsections (i)(4) and (5), for three successive months, then the courses offered by that school may be disqualified until all delinquent graduation reports, processing fees, and administrative fees as set forth in subsections (i)(4) and (5) have been submitted to and are received by OBRE. OBRE shall send notice to the school of an informal conference before the Auction Advisory Board and of pending disqualification, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or by other signature restricted delivery service.

(Source:  Added at 25 Ill. Reg. 12586, effective September 28, 2001)